Politics
La Crosse committee approves $150k funding for homeless outreach; heads to full council Thursday
When multiple plans by the city of La Crosse to provide bridge housing for homeless last year fell through, the funding set aside for the project remained untouched.
Now, $150,000 of that money could be spent to continue outreach programming to assist unsheltered people.
On Thursday, City planner Andrea Trane told the city’s Finance and Personnel Committee that ARPA funds could be used to fund the outreach for a year.
“We thought this use of it, bc it already was designated, and vetted through Bakery Tilly, as being a good use of ARPA funds to address those most impacted by COVID,” Trane said.
The funding will go to the Independent Living Resources (ILR).
“It’s the cost of maintaining two full-time staff, which is currently what the outreach team is, and we serve over 200 people a year,” ILR’s Sara Eckland told the committee. “But without additional funding, there’s a very real chance that our outreach team will not exist after January of 2024.
Trane noted that ILR is one of the groups trying to work under the city-county umbrella to create a five-year plan to bring homelessness to functional zero.
“I do sit on the team that’s working with the county to address the five-year plan,” Trane said, “and we recognize the importance of Independent Living Resources and expect that their role and helping them get more adequate funding for this role, would be part of that long-term plan.”
The committee endorsed the spending by a 4-2 vote. Barb Janssen was one of the dissenting votes.
“I don’t think it’s just the city of La Crosse that should be responsible for this, and I think it’s time for others to step up and provide funding,” Janssen said.
Last year, the city initially had teamed up with La Crosse County to buy the old Chamber of Commerce building downtown for bridge housing. But, as the deal came close to completion, after multiple public meetings, a private buyer put down a cash offer to buy the building out from under the city and county.
After that, the city tried to buy a motel on the south side, and, though it appeared to be a done deal, an inspection of the building apparently caused the city to back out of the deal.
Kent Porter
August 7, 2023 at 5:57 am
Hopefully they use our 150 k of our tax money to get the homeless off of drugs and booze so they can get jobs and take care of them selfs
Dave
August 7, 2023 at 4:34 pm
WHY DO ALL THESE PROGRAMS SEEM HAVE AS THEIR MAIN FOCUS KEEPING STAFF EMPLOYED
walden
August 9, 2023 at 9:14 pm
And why did they spend $3 million on a new food panty building that will employ even more staff? How many could have been fed with that $3 million?. Only the irony is rich.
Michael D Johnson
August 10, 2023 at 5:05 am
Better to but them all tickets to go south for the winter, at least they would stay warm.
Rosenda
August 7, 2023 at 10:51 am
Can the city please revisit the idea of a city sponsored tent city (WITH STAFF AND CASE MANAGEMENT) as well as the tiny house community idea please? First Step communities in Sacramento is housing people left and right- they had a 43% positive exit raining when I checked last… Please look into doing something exactly like these people are
https://www.firststepcommunities.org/safeground
Judy
August 7, 2023 at 1:42 pm
I would be interested in knowing the number of arrests made of homeless people for illegal drug use and being intoxicated in a public place. Does anyone have that information? I was told by a councilman that the city cannot require the homeless be drug and alcohol free, like the Salvation Army does. Really??? Why not?
Kent Porter
August 7, 2023 at 4:36 pm
FOUND OUT OUR 150 GRAND GOES TO A RESOURCE CENTER TO FUND 2 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES TO END HOMELESS WHICH THEY HAVENT IN THE PAST AND THEY WONT GET IT DONE NOW!!! THATS WHAT THEY DO TAKE OUR TAX MONEY FUND THEM SELFS AND NOTHING GETS DONE !!!
Tim
August 7, 2023 at 5:04 pm
Just do Like florida did and Ship them to conneticut
Marbeth Johnson
August 7, 2023 at 10:42 pm
Once again, if they don’t want help, it doesn’t matter what we do for them. They need to want to do for themselves. Housing was given to them and the motel was trashed. And the tax payers lauded again!! If something is given, something should be gotten in return. For every $100 in housing/40-50 hours work time at food pantry or Salvation Army. If I have to work for my housing-everyone else should also.
Teresa Page
August 9, 2023 at 9:20 am
Still, how are 2 houses going to help the homeless? Who gets a room? What basis are people picked? Who picks them? A lot more questions than answers.